Poppin'
was one of many sessions tenor saxophonist
Hank Mobley
recorded in the late '50s and early '60s but remained unreleased until the late '70s and '80s. It's hard to say why this session - which was recorded in 1957 -- sat on the shelves, since it as good as the other records he cut at the time. Leading a sextet featuring trumpeter
Art Farmer
, baritone saxophonist
Pepper Adams
, pianist
Sonny Clark
, bassist
Paul Chambers
, and drummer
Philly Joe Jones
,
Mobley
plays a selection of five originals and contemporary jazz songs with passion and vigor. All of the musicians turn in fine performances (
Clark
in particular stands out with his lithe solos and tasteful accompaniment), and the result is a winning collection of straight-ahead hard bop that ranks as another solid addition to
's strong catalog. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine